Recent media coverage of professional athletes assaulting women underscores the significant issue that domestic violence is, and continues to be, at all levels in society. I think of the young girls and women who turn to alcohol and drugs, desperate to temporarily relieve the physical and emotional pain of being abused by a parent, boyfriend, or husband. The emotional and physical scars can be long-lasting through addiction and mental trauma.

The recent loss of Robin Williams due to suicide is a harsh, public reminder that depression is a serious and "equal opportunity" disease. My clinical experiences have shown that young children, teenagers, and adults of all ages can experience depression, though the reasons for feeling this way are unique for each person.

Plato is quoted for saying, "be kind to others, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." In the world we live in today, this does not seem like such a stretch of the imagination. You never know what someone else's life is really like unless you walk in their shoes. We are all great at wearing a mask to disguise our problems. With there being so many people in the world, it is almost guaranteed that every person you come in contact with is experiencing some sort of problem. Often these problems deal with our mental health, and that includes eating disorders.